The N.F.L is going through a very difficult time with former players who are currently retired suing the league. Hundreds of ex-players are suing the league because they feel that the N.F.L for one promotes violence that leads to concussions which ultimately lead to more serve and longer lasting brain effects. Another issue that these players have is that they do not feel like the league and team trainers gave them a truthful and unbiased opinion when faced with a concussion or any related head injury for that matter. It seems that the fab of ex-players suing the league over this issue is catching fire because not only are more and more players beginning to try to sue the league but the outside supporters group is growing as well.
It is a shame when you see ex-athletes such as Muhammad Ali, who cannot walk and talk like they used to due to brain disease. There is no doubt in my mind that sports are in direct relation to these brain injuries later in one’s life, however are these athletes justified to sue their respective professional organizations in which they participated in? In my opinion, the answer is no. Reason being, these athletes are well aware of the consequences that may occur when playing a contact sport such as football. They have played ball all of their lives, and all of them have seen injuries whether brain-related or not. If they were completely naive to the fact that things such as concussions could occur then they should not have signed a contract that is essential in order for them to play a professional sport. If you live the life, you may have to pay the price. N.F.L is known for its violence and the behind violent act such as knockout hits, it’s the name of the game. However the ex-players claim that the league itself “promotes” these knockout hits that leave athletes motionless on the ground and do not really care about the safety of its players. If this was true than why do players get sued for hitting a player in ways that can be potentially dangerous? Why does the league promote youth camps and the lower levels to teach upcoming players the proper technique to tackle? At the end of the day the N.F.L is a business, and the fact of the matter is that people love to see big hits. Whenever you see a highlight of an N.F.L game I guarantee you there will be an array of clips of the game’s biggest hits. Yes, the league makes it clear and promotes high quality ball that includes hard hitting. But the league also promotes proper ways of playing football which limits dangerous situations as much as possible. And to go back to my point earlier of the players having a choice, it is made clear what the N.F.L is all about from an outside view. Everyone constantly sees these big hits that are all over the television and the internet, these players are no exception. Nobody put a gun to their heads and forced them to play the sport. Players of the past that the game has changed, they often criticize football calling it soft. 70% of players who played in the 1990’s or before claim that they would prematurely (as far as injuries) enter a game no matter what the trainers said. They said that peer pressure from their teammates to start playing again prematurely would override what the trainers said. Lastly as time goes on our knowledge of brain damage expands, ten years ago we did not know nearly as much as we do now about the issue of brain damage in sports. A large majority of these players played in a time period where our knowledge of this issue was not as advanced on the topic.
It is a shame when you see ex-athletes such as Muhammad Ali, who cannot walk and talk like they used to due to brain disease. There is no doubt in my mind that sports are in direct relation to these brain injuries later in one’s life, however are these athletes justified to sue their respective professional organizations in which they participated in? In my opinion, the answer is no. Reason being, these athletes are well aware of the consequences that may occur when playing a contact sport such as football. They have played ball all of their lives, and all of them have seen injuries whether brain-related or not. If they were completely naive to the fact that things such as concussions could occur then they should not have signed a contract that is essential in order for them to play a professional sport. If you live the life, you may have to pay the price. N.F.L is known for its violence and the behind violent act such as knockout hits, it’s the name of the game. However the ex-players claim that the league itself “promotes” these knockout hits that leave athletes motionless on the ground and do not really care about the safety of its players. If this was true than why do players get sued for hitting a player in ways that can be potentially dangerous? Why does the league promote youth camps and the lower levels to teach upcoming players the proper technique to tackle? At the end of the day the N.F.L is a business, and the fact of the matter is that people love to see big hits. Whenever you see a highlight of an N.F.L game I guarantee you there will be an array of clips of the game’s biggest hits. Yes, the league makes it clear and promotes high quality ball that includes hard hitting. But the league also promotes proper ways of playing football which limits dangerous situations as much as possible. And to go back to my point earlier of the players having a choice, it is made clear what the N.F.L is all about from an outside view. Everyone constantly sees these big hits that are all over the television and the internet, these players are no exception. Nobody put a gun to their heads and forced them to play the sport. Players of the past that the game has changed, they often criticize football calling it soft. 70% of players who played in the 1990’s or before claim that they would prematurely (as far as injuries) enter a game no matter what the trainers said. They said that peer pressure from their teammates to start playing again prematurely would override what the trainers said. Lastly as time goes on our knowledge of brain damage expands, ten years ago we did not know nearly as much as we do now about the issue of brain damage in sports. A large majority of these players played in a time period where our knowledge of this issue was not as advanced on the topic.